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Many thanks to Christianity Today for its July cover story, "Cuba for Christ—Ahora!" Churches in the U.S. and around the world need to pray for and support the vibrant church that has developed in this oppressed country, and CT is the perfect magazine to share this story.

At the heart of Cuba's spiritual revival is the house church movement. Before restrictions were placed on Americans visiting house churches, staff from Global Connection International visited a few of them—they were exciting places of worship, to say the least. On one occasion, we attended a Methodist church in downtown Havana. Nearly 500 worshipers filled the church, while others stood outside, listening. One hour was devoted to singing. One hour to preaching. One hour to the invitation. Twenty minutes to announcements. And no one left early. The Cuban church, while restricted in many ways, is not underground; it is open and obvious to everyone.

Doug Ross
Executive Director, Global Literature Connection
Sun Lakes, Arizona

I was glad to see a major evangelical publication take a balanced, biblical view on animal compassion ["Not One Sparrow," July]. I recently preached a sermon about compassion toward animals as being not a mere sentimental choice but a biblical obligation. Many parishioners said they had never heard a sermon about animals. Even though animals came before us at creation and were included on Noah's ark and in God's covenant, the church seems to mention them only when planning fellowship dinners. And the animals on the menu come from factory farms where existence is hellish.

How often I hear people say that caring about animal suffering means one must not care about people. But people like William Wilberforce prove the opposite—that, as Psalm 36:6 declares, "O Lord, you preserve both man and beast."

Craig DiBenedictis
Allenwood, New Jersey

I don't know any Christ-followers who advocate for the mistreatment of animals; in fact, most have an understanding from Scripture that humans must protect vulnerable creatures. But it appears to me that the church's stewardship of animals is becoming confused with a worldview that sees no difference between humans and animals. Both are creations of God and fulfill his purposes by being what they were created to be. What they were created to do and be, however, are not the same.

It is not necessary to diminish animals in order to recognize the high value God places on the crown of his creation, humans. Care for, enjoy, and love the awe-inspiring array of creatures God has made—and care for, enjoy, and love the most vulnerable of God's creation: orphaned boys and girls.

Kay Warren
Director, HIV/AIDS Initiative,
Saddleback Church
Lake Forest, California

I received the complimentary first copy of CT as a Fuller Seminary student 50 years ago, and have probably read every issue since. As I read "Is The Gay Marriage Debate Over?" [July], I had the strange feeling that, as Mordecai said to Esther, "Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

Mark Galli goes far beyond gay marriage itself, opening up why the church today seems to be leading the charge into a post-Christian America. He exposes the unchecked individualism that permeates the evangelical church and too often diminishes our witness to a whimper. If his message dies with this issue of CT, the church will be losing a call to rebirth. I pray that it will, somehow, be sung from the rooftops.

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September 2009, Vol. 53, No. 9